Free the Tinley Park Five!

Published on Nov 17, 2012

Photos of the anti-racist "Tinley Park Five," courtesy of the Chicago Tribune, May 12, 2012.
Originally posted on 11/17/2012

On Saturday, May 19, 2012 eighteen antifascists broke up a meeting of the Illinois European Heritage Association, a group of racists that includes Ku Klux Klan and National Socialist Movement members, as well as other white supremacists. Five Hoosier Anti Racist Movement (HARM) members were later arrested for their alleged participation in this action. They have been dubbed the Tinley Park Five after the Chicago suburb where this confrontation occurred. They are (from left to right) Alex Stuck, 22; Cody Sutherlin, 23; Dylan Sutherlin, 20; Jason Sutherlin, 33; and John Tucker, 26.

A number of white supremacists were harmed during the action, including a child pornographer. The confrontation sent shock waves through racist circles and caused a few long-time white supremacist organizers to retire. It successfully seeded mistrust and broke up allegiances between various factions of the white nationalist community. Since the arrests, however, the families of the Tinley Park Five have come under attack as their personal information and home addresses were posted on white supremacist message boards. Families had to be relocated. Racists made death threats and even killed a family dog. We must continue to show these families that they do not stand alone. They need real solidarity in this difficult time. Not only have they had their sons, brothers, fathers, and partners ripped from them by the state, but they are being attacked by grassroots fascists.

The fight of the Tinley Park Five is our fight, and imprisoned antifascists need our help. They are facing over 30 felonies each (three for every beaten Nazi in the case).  Most recently they were offered a plea deal of seven years in federal prison, which they rejected. Bond has been set at nearly $1 million dollars. With our help we can alleviate some of the burden on the families and immediate support groups of the TP5 and get them the things they need: food, supplies from commissary, and legal representation. The thing they need above all else is solidarity.

Donate here . Free the Tinley Park Five!